Novel Attenuated Poliovirus

ABSTRACT

A novel and stable attenuated poliovirus, which replicates in neuroblastoma cells, is produced by engineering an indigenous replication element (cre), into the 5′ non-translated genomic region and inactivating the native cre element located in the coding region of 2C (mono-crePV). The stably attenuated poliovirus replicates in a neuroblastoma model (Neuro-2a CD155  tumors) expressing CD155, the poliovirus receptor, and is effective for oncolytic treatment and cure of solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/405,068 filed Mar. 16, 2009, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Application No. 61/036,925 filed Mar. 14, 2008 and which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FEDERAL FUNDING

This invention was produced in part using funds obtained through NIAID Grants AI39485 and AI15122. The federal government has certain rights in this invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to novel attenuated polioviruses. The attenuated polioviruses are effective in oncolytic treatment and cure of human solid tumors, especially neuroblastoma.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Neuroblastoma is one of the most common solid tumors in children (Katzenstein, 1998). Available treatment is of limited utility for high-risk neuroblastoma and prognosis is therefore poor (Weinstein, 2003). Currently, children with high-risk neuroblastoma are treated with radiotherapy, dose-intensive cycles of multi-drug chemotherapy or, if patients responded poorly, with myeloablative dose of chemotherapy supported by stem cell rescue. Despite an aggressive treatment strategy, disease relapse occurs frequently and both short- and long-term toxicities, including treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia, occur in a significant percentage of disease survivors (Kushner, 1998) (Matthay, 1999). The high incidence of resistance of advanced stage neuroblastoma to conventional therapies has prompted investigators to search for novel therapeutic approaches.

Replication-competent viruses that replicate in tumor cells and lyticly kill them with limited side effects have been reported to have great potential in anti-tumor therapy (Ring, 2002; Thorne, 2005; Young, 2006; Parato, 2005). It has been suggested that antigen-presenting cells might internalize antigen released from virus infected tumor cells, leading to specific peptide presentation and generation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL), which, in turn, may facilitate tumor killing (Porosnicu, 2003; Berwin, 2001).

Poliovirus has recently been added to the list of viruses that hold promise as possible agents in tumor therapy (Gromeier, 2000; Ochiai, 2006). A non-enveloped, plus-stranded enterovirus of the Picornaviridae family, poliovirus replicates in the gastrointestinal tract causing little, if any, clinical symptoms. Rarely (at a rate of 10⁻² to 10⁻³), the virus invades the central nervous system (CNS) where it targets predominantly motor neurons, thereby causing paralysis and even death (poliomyelitis). Poliovirus occurs in three serotypes all of which are defined in their amino acid sequences that specify the antigenic properties. That is, poliovirus type 1 has a capsid specifying serotype 1 antigenic sites.

Generally, poliovirus replicates efficiently in nearly all tumor cell lines tested, which has led to the suggestion that it may be suitable for the treatment of different cancers. However, the possibility that poliovirus can cause poliomyelitis calls for significant neuro-attenuation to avoid collateral neurological complications in cancer treatment. Additionally, there has been concern that the high coverage of anti-polio vaccination in early childhood in the U.S. and other countries may interfere with the application of poliovirus in tumor therapy.

Pathogenesis of poliovirus and of other neurotropic viruses can be controlled by translation (Gromeier, 1996; Gromeier, 2000; Mohr, 2005). In poliovirus, an exchange of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) within the 5′-NTR with its counterpart from human rhinovirus type 2 (HRV2), another picornavirus, yielded viruses (called PV1(RIPO)) that are highly attenuated in CD155 tg mice (Gromeier, 1996; Gromeier, 1999) yet replicate efficiently and lytically in cell lines derived from solid glioma and breast cancer (Gromeier, 1996; Gromeier, 2000; Ochiai, 2004; Ochiai, 2006). However, PV1(RIPO) and PVS(RIPO), a derivative of PV1(RIPO), grow poorly in neuroblastoma cells (Gromeier, 1996; Gromeier, 2000).

With the exception of Raji cells, a Burkett's lymphoma cell line harboring a transcriptionally inactive CD155 gene (Solecki, 1997), wild type poliovirus kills all human tumor cells tested including neuroblastoma cell lines established from patients (Toyoda, 2004). Using the nude mice model, tumors of human origin can be successfully treated with neuroattenuated poliovirus strains, that is with PV(RIPO) derivatives (Gromeier, 2000), or with the Sabin vaccine strains (Toyoda, 2004). However, the lack of a possible immune response to the oncolytic agents mitigates the importance of the results. PVS(RIPO) is, in fact, under consideration for brain tumor therapy (Gromeier, 2000; Ochiai, 2006; Cello, 2008). However, as noted above, PVS(RIPO) replicates very poorly in human neuroblastoma cells, which disqualifies it from consideration in neuroblastoma therapy.

The whole genome synthesis of poliovirus (Cello, 2002) has produced, as by-product, the surprising observation that a point mutation (A₁₀₃G) in a region between the cloverleaf and IRES, henceforth called “spacer region”, in the 5′-NTR (FIG. 1A) attenuated poliovirus neurovirulence 10,000 fold in CD155 tg mice (De Jesus, 2005). The A₁₀₃G variant of poliovirus, named GG PV1(M), expresses a good replication phenotype in and kills human neuroblastoma cells (SK-N-MC) at 37° C. (De Jesus, 2005). This growth property of GG PV1(M) is different from that of PV(RIPO). However, GG PV1(M) is not useful in tumor therapy because the attenuating mutation A₁₀₃G in the spacer region was unstable upon replication, and direct revertant variants rapidly emerge whose neurovirulence matches that of wt PV1(M) (De Jesus, 2005).

Novel therapeutic strategies are essential to improve the prognosis of patients with high-risk neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma therapy with a poliovirus derivative may produce less toxicity often associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and complications such as second solid neoplasm, cardiopulmonary sequelae, renal dysfunction and endocrine consequences may not occur. The invention of a novel attenuated and stable poliovirus that will be effective in oncolytic treatment and cure of neuroblastoma is highly desirable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a stably attenuated poliovirus with enhanced replication properties in human tumor cells, which is effective in treating human solid tumors, particularly neuroblastoma.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a stably attenuated recombinant poliovirus containing a single active cre regulatory element, said cre element located in the spacer region of the 5′-NTR between the cloverleaf and internal ribosome entry site (IRES), so as to produce a stable attenuated phenotype. In an embodiment of the invention, the cre element is inserted into the spacer region at nucleotide 102/103. In such a virus, the native cre element, which is in the 2C coding region of the poliovirus genome is inactivated or deleted.

In another embodiment of the invention, the stably attenuated poliovirus comprises a point mutation which enhances replication properties of the virus. In a particular embodiment, the recombinant poliovirus comprises an A₁₃₃G transition in domain II of the IRES, which enhances replication properties of the poliovirus in CD155 tg mice.

The invention also provides a composition comprising a stably attenuated recombinant poliovirus of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In various embodiments the invention may be such a composition wherein the composition is infusible, injectable, the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a physiological salt solution, the physiological salt solution is HANKS balanced salt solution, or anti-poliovirus antibodies are systematically administered along with the said composition.

The invention also provides a therapeutic method of treating a solid tumor in a subject comprising administering at the tumor site a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising a stably attenuated recombinant poliovirus of the invention, containing a single active cre regulatory element, said cre element located in the spacer region of the 5′-NTR between the cloverleaf and internal ribosome entry site (IRES), wherein the recombinant poliovirus infects and causes lysis of the tumor cells. In an embodiment of the invention, the composition is administered by intratumoral injection. In another embodiment of the invention, the therapeutic method further inhibits tumor recurrence. According to the invention, the recombinant poliovirus used in the therapeutic method further comprises one or more nucleotide substitutions which provide for enhanced replication properties, such as an A₁₃₃G transition in domain II of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES).

In an embodiment of the invention, the therapeutic method involves administration of the recombinant poliovirus of the invention after anti-poliovirus immunity has been elicited in the subject by immunization. In another embodiment of the invention, wherein the subject is immunocompromised, temporary immunity is conferred by passive immunization with anti-poliovirus antibodies. According to the invention, anti-poliovirus immunity is matched to the serotype of the oncolytic poliovirus that is administered at the site of the tumor.

According to the invention, a variety of solid tumors are treated. In one embodiment, the tumor is a neuroblastoma. In other embodiments, the tumor to be treated is one of the breast, colon, lung, epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal, upper respiratory tract, genito-urinary tracts, liver, prostate, adrenal gland, pancreas, abdominal cavity, or brain.

The invention further provides a method of producing a recombinant poliovirus with the cre regulatory element in the spacer region between the cloverleaf and IRES in the 5′-NTR so as to produce a stable attenuated phenotype, characterized by the following steps: a) inserting a cre regulatory element into the spacer region between the cloverleaf and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) in the 5′-NTR of a poliovirus genome; b) inactivating the native cre element in the 2C coding region of the poliovirus genome; c) inserting an A₁₃₃G transition in domain II of the internal ribosome entry site; d) introducing the poliovirus genome into an appropriate host cell, and e) growing the virus in the host cell.

In a further embodiment, the invention further comprises selecting a point mutation that enhances replication of the recombinant poliovirus by repeatedly passaging the recombinant poliovirus in the host cell. In other embodiments of the invention, the host cell is a HeLa cell or a Neuro-2a^(CD155) cell.

In another embodiment, the method of the invention includes a kit comprising a recombinant poliovirus according to the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an applicator, and an instructional material for the use thereof.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Genomic organization of poliovirus and one-step growth curve for mono-crePV and dual-crePV. A, Structure of the PV1(M), dual-crePV, mono-crePV and A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV genome. The single-stranded RNA is covalently linked to the viral-encoded protein VPg at the 5′ end of the non-translated region (5′-NTR). The 5′-NTR consists of two cis-acting domains, the cloverleaf and the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), which are separated by a spacer region. The IRES controls translation of the polyprotein (open box), consisting of structural (P1) region and nonstructural regions (P2 and P3), specifying the replication proteins. Within the 2C^(ATPase) coding region, the cis replication element (cre) is indicated. The 3′-NTR contains a heteropolymeric region and is polyadenylylated. RNA replication requires all three structural elements, cloverleaf, cre and the 3′-NTR. The duplicated cre was inserted into the spacer between cloverleaf and IRES (dual-crePV). The native cre in 2C^(ATPase) was inactivated by mutation as indicated by an X (mono-crePV). A point mutation (A₁₃₃G) was engineered into domain II of the 5′-NTR in mono-crePV (A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV). Wt, wild type. B, One-step growth curves for mono-crePV and dual-crePV in HeLa cells (upper panel) and SK-N-MC cells (lower panel). Cells were infected at an MOI of 10 and incubated at 37° C. or 39.5° C. The virus titer was determined by plaque assay on monolayers of HeLa cells.

FIG. 2. One-step growth curves of polioviruses in different human and mouse neuroblastoma cells. Cells were infected as described in FIG. 1B with PV1(M) (closed triangle), mono-crePV (closed circle), and A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (close square). A, human SK-N-SH at 37° C. and 39.5° C., B, human SH-SY5Y at 37° C. and 39.5° C., C, human SK-N-MC at 37° C. and 39.5° C., D, mouse Neuro-2a^(CD155) at 37° C. and 39.5° C.

FIG. 3. Schematic presentation of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV therapy on Neuro-2a^(CD155) tumors in CD155 tgA/J mice with established immunity against poliovirus. Stage I, CD155 tgA/J mice were immunized intraperitoneally with live mono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) three times with an interval one week. Stage II, 21 days after the last immunization, 1×10⁷ cells Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells were transplanted subcutaneously the animals given. Stage III, intratumoral treatment of the subcutaneous tumor with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) or PBS at day 0, 2, 4 and 6. Stage IV, mice that survived without signs of tumors for 6 months were re-challenged with Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (1×10⁷ cells) in the contra lateral flank.

FIG. 4. Abolition of established neuroblastoma implants in CD155 tgA/J mice with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV. Neuro-2a^(CD155) was introduced as a tumor implant subcutaneously in CD155 tgA/J mice, and multiple intratumoral injections of 1×10⁸ pfu of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (solid arrows) was administered when the tumor volume reached approximately 170 mm³ (day 0). Control animals were given PBS (open circles). Virus-treated animals showed regression of the tumors (closed circles). One of the twelve virus-treated animals was sacrificed at day 8 (dotted arrow) for tumor analysis. Two of the eleven mice observed long term developed tumors as indicated.

FIG. 5. Expression of CD155 in tumor cells. Whole cell lysates of tumors from mice untreated with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (lane 1, 2, 3 and 4), tumor from the mouse which was treated with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV and sacrificed at day 8 (dotted arrow in FIG. 4) (lane 5) and tumors from two mice with recurrent tumors (lane 6 and 7) were resolved on a 10% SDS-PAGE gel following by Western blotting with anti-CD155 antibody NAEZ-8 (upper panel) or anti-actin antibody (lower panel).

FIG. 6. Schematic presentation of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV therapy and tumor re-challenge in CD155 tgA/J mice. Stage I, CD155 tgA/J mice were immunized intraperitoneally with live mono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) three times with an interval one week. Stage II, 21 days after the last immunization, 1×10⁷ cells Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells were transplanted subcutaneously the animals given. Stage III, intratumoral treatment of the subcutaneous tumor with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) or PBS at day 0, 2, 4 and 6. Stage IV (1^(st) tumor re-challenge), mice that survived without signs of tumors for 6 months were re-challenged with Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (1×10⁷ cells) in the contra lateral flank. Stage V (2^(nd) tumor re-challenge), mice that survived without signs of tumors for 2 months after 1^(st) tumor re-challenge were re-challenged with Neuro-2a cells (1×10⁷ cells) in the contra lateral flank. Stage VI, mice were sacrificed 2 months after 2^(nd) tumor re-challenge and splenocytes were used for the cytotoxic activity.

FIG. 7. Tumor-specific cytotoxic T cell activity after virotherapy. (A) Mice were sacrificed 2 months after 2^(nd) tumor re-challenge as described in FIG. 6 (VI) and the cytotoxic activity of effector cells prepared from spleens was measured against either Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells or Neuro-2a cells. (B) Characterization of effector cytotoxic cells. Mice were sacrificed 2 months after 2^(nd) tumor re-challenge as described in FIG. 6 (VI). Splenocytes purified from the mice were incubated with neutralizing antibody against CD4, CD8, NK or PBS (as control) and then tested for cytotoxicity against Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells.

FIG. 8. Antitumor effect of adaptively transferred splenocytes. (A) Schematic presentation of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV therapy on Neuro-2a^(CD155) tumors in A/J mice against poliovirus. Stage I, 1×10⁷ cells Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells were transplanted subcutaneously in A/J mice. Stage II, intratumoral treatment of the subcutaneous tumor with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) or PBS at day 0, 2, 4 and 6. Stage III, mice that survived without signs of tumors for 2 months were sacrificed and splenocytes were purified. Stage IV, prior to adoptive transfer of splenocytes, 1×10⁷ cells Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells were transplanted subcutaneously in A/J mice. Stage V, when the subcutaneous tumor volumes were ˜170 mm³, 2×10⁷ splenocytes in 100 μl of PBS were adaptively transferred to the mice (n=6 mice per group) by tail vein injection. (B) Tumor growth of established neuroblastoma implants in A/J mice. Tumor size was measured once a week and tumor volume was determined.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides highly attenuated polioviruses that are suitable for the treatment or amelioration of human solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma in children. The invention also provides an immunocompetent animal model that allows investigation of the oncolytic capacity of neuro-attenuated polioviruses for the treatment of neuroblastoma in the presence of high titers of poliovirus neutralizing antibodies.

A stable attenuated phenotype can be generated if the spacer region between cloverleaf and IRES of the poliovirus genome is interrupted by an essential RNA replication element that the virus cannot afford to delete. Such an element is the cre, a stem-loop structure mapping to the coding region of viral protein 2C^(ATPase) in native poliovirus (FIG. 1A) (Paul, 2002). According to the invention, a single active cre element is provided in the 5′-NTR of the poliovirus genome at a position which results in viral attenuation, and wherein any mutation of the element that would revert the attenuation results in inactivation of the cre element such that the poliovirus becomes non-viable. According to the invention, an active cre element is inserted into the spacer region of the 5′-NTR between the cloverleaf and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES). In a particular embodiment, the cre element is inserted into the spacer region at nucleotides 102/103.

It will be appreciated that the stability of attenuation depends on the cre element located in the 5′-NTR being the only active cre element. Accordingly, the native cre element, located in the 2C coding region of the poliovirus genome, is inactivated. Typically, the sequence of the native cre element, which is in a coding region, is mutated to inactivate the cre element, but not alter the amino acids encoded by the nucleotides of the cre element. However, mutations that result in conservative amino acid substitutions are allowable. A conservative amino acid substitution is a substitution with an amino acids having generally similar properties (e.g., acidic, basic, aromatic, size, positively or negatively charged, polarity, non-polarity) such that the substitutions do not substantially alter peptide, polypeptide or protein characteristics (e.g., charge, isoelectric point, affinity, avidity, conformation, and solubility) or activity. Typical substitutions that may be performed for such conservative amino acid substitution may be among the groups of amino acids as follows:

glycine (G), alanine (A), valine (V), leucine (L) and isoleucine (I);

aspartic acid (D) and glutamic acid (E);

alanine (A), serine (S) and threonine (T);

histidine (H), lysine (K) and arginine (R):

asparagine (N) and glutamine (Q);

phenylalanine (F), tyrosine (Y) and tryptophan (W)

The stably attenuated virus is administered directly to tumor tissue, for example, by injection. In an embodiment of the invention, the virus is modified to enhance replication properties in tumor tissue, while retaining an attenuated phenotype. A non-limiting example of a genome of such a virus is provided by A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV (SEQ ID NO:1), in which an A to G transition mutation (relative to PV Mahoney) is present at nucleotide position 133 (i.e., corresponding to nucleotide position 133 of PV Mahoney), and provides for enhanced replication in a human tumor model. (e.g., CD155 transgenic mice). In various human solid tumors, the same or different mutation may enhance poliovirus replication. According to the invention, one way such mutations can be obtained is by viral passage and testing for enhancement of poliovirus replication properties. Another way is by in vitro mutagenesis.

The invention further provides construction of fully immunocompetent mice (CD155 tgA/J mice) that express CD155 and accept Neuro2a^(CD155) cells for the formation of lethal neuroblastoma. Neuroblastoma bearing CD155 tgA/J mice that were fully protected against lethal doses of wild type PV1(M) can be cured by intra-tumoral administration of a variant of mono crePV (A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV). Remarkably, the tumor bearing mice, which were cured through treatment with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV, resist attempts to reestablish neuroblastoma with Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells. These data indicate that the invention is useful for viral oncolytic therapy against human solid tumors, such as high-risk neuroblastoma in the general pediatric population.

According to the invention, neurovirulent poliovirus isolates can be stably attenuated, and replicative properties enhanced. Such neurovirulent poliovirus can be naturally occurring isolates, or derivatives thereof. Poliovirus type 1 (Mahoney) (PV1(M)) is exemplified herein. Other non-limiting examples of neurovirulent poliovirus include P3/Leon/37 (from which the attenuated Sabin vaccine is derived) and neurovirulent derivatives of those P3/Leon/37 and Mahoney. For example, non-attenuating mutations present in attenuated poliovirus (such as Sabin) have been distinguished in the art from those that cause attenuation. Further examples are poliovirus isolates from individuals who chronically excrete neurovirulent poliovirus of vaccine-origin.

According to the invention, a cre element is inserted into the 5′-NTR between the cloverleaf and the internal ribosome entry site (IRES) such that an attenuated virus results. As exemplified herein, a cre element is inserted into an NheI site created at nucleotide 102/103 in the 5′-NTR of PV1(M) (see SEQ ID NO:1), but need not be so precisely located. Attenuation may be determined, for example, by plaque assay or other techniques that are known in the art for measuring virus replication. cre element have been identified in the genomes of several picornaviruses, including poliovirus types 1 and 3, human rhinovirus (e.g., HRV2 and HRV14), cardioviruses. The cre elements are predicted to form hairpin structures with a conserved sequence of about 14 nucleotides at the loop portion of the hairpin. In an embodiment of the invention, the cre element is from the poliovirus type 1 designated PV1(M).

As exemplified herein, the replicative properties of an attenuated poliovirus can be enhanced by passage, in vitro, and in vivo. As demonstrated herein, mutations occur in attenuated viruses of the invention during passage, but are not observed to occur in the cre element engineered into the 5′-NTR. Accordingly, viral attenuation is not overcome. Rather, the mutations provide for enhancement of replication properties that are beneficial for oncolytic treatment of tumors. Further, such mutations are readily obtainable. Accordingly, the invention provides a stably attenuated poliovirus containing a single active cre regulatory element in the 5′-NTR, and a mutation that enhances replication. By enhanced, it is meant that viral replication is increased relative to a “wild type” neurovirulent poliovirus such as PV1(M) that contains the same cre element modifications in the 5′-NTR. In one embodiment of the invention (i.e. SEQ ID NO:1), the mutation that enhances replication properties is an A to G transition at nucleotide 133 in domain II of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES).

Recombinant polioviruses can be synthesized by well-known recombinant DNA techniques. Any standard manual on DNA technology provides detailed protocols to produce the recombinant polioviruses of the invention. (Sambrook, Fritsch and Maniatis, Molecular Cloning, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, NY (1989). Exemplary detailed cloning instructions for the construction of such recombinant viruses are provided below and in the Examples.

The recombinant polioviruses of the invention are oncolytic and useful for treatment of solid tumors. As exemplified herein using a human neuroblastoma model, oncolytic poliovirus of the invention provides a powerful tool for treatment of neuroblastoma and solid tumors more generally, and can further induce host immune defenses that are effective against tumor recurrences. Initially, prior to oncolytic treatment of a subject, in order to provide or boost protective immunity against poliovirus harmful infection of neural tissue, it is preferable to immunize a subject. Immunization can be by any method known in the art, such as by injection or oral administration. In the case of an immunocompromized subject, it may be preferable to passively immunized by injection of anti-poliovirus antibodies. Passive immunization can be by any method known in the art, though intravenous administration is usually preferred. As exemplified herein, in order to provide protective immunity against harmful poliovirus infection, CD155 tgA/J mice were immunized by intraperitoneal injection of mono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) three times with intervals of one week, and neutralizing antibody was titered.

Once a sufficient antibody titer is established, an oncolytic poliovirus of the invention is administered. Although the therapeutic oncolytic polioviruses can be delivered by various routes, including intravenously, the preferred mode of administration is directly to the tumor site, for example, by injection into the tumor.

In a neuroblastoma model demonstrated herein, Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (1×10⁷) were subcutaneously implanted in the right flank of the immunized CD155 tgA/J mice described above. According to the invention, when the subcutaneous tumor volumes were approximately 170 mm³ (approximately 7-12 days after implantation), mice were inoculated intratumorally with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV or PBS, respectively. By day 8, tumors had grown in PBS treated mice to >17 mm in diameter. In contrast, marked tumor regression was observed in all of the A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV treated mice, and most of the A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV treated mice showed no evidence of recurrent tumors after 6 months. In the few mice in which tumors recurred, CD155 expression was very low compared to the non-recurrent tumors. Further, when the surviving mice were rechallenged with Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells at a different location (the opposite flank), no tumors developed at the site of inoculation or elsewhere.

Thus, the invention provides not only a method of treating a tumor in a subject, by administering a stably attenuated recombinant poliovirus of the invention to the subject, such that tumor cells are lysed, but also a method of inhibiting tumor recurrence. In an embodiment of the invention, an immune response is elicited when a tumor is treated, such that recurring tumors are inhibited. This “prophylactic” anti-tumor response can be confirmed by collecting immune serum and/or immune cells from the subject and detecting immune activity against the subjects own tumor cells in an in vitro assay. As exemplified herein in test animals, immune cells conferring anti-tumor protection can be adoptively transferred.

The recombinant polioviruses of this invention are useful in prophylactic and therapeutic compositions for treating malignant tumors in various organs, such as breast, colon, bronchial passage, epithelial lining of the gastrointestinal, upper respiratory and genito-urinary tracts, liver, prostate, adrenal glands, pancreas, abdominal cavity, and the brain.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the invention comprise a therapeutically effective amount of one or more recombinant polioviruses according to this invention, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. By “therapeutically effective amount” is meant an amount capable of causing lysis of the cancer cells and/or tumor necrosis. By “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” is meant a carrier that does not cause an allergic reaction or other untoward effect in patients to whom it is administered.

Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, for example, one or more of water, saline, phosphate buffered saline, dextrose, glycerol, ethanol and the like, as well as combinations thereof. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers may further comprise minor amounts of auxiliary substances such as wetting or emulsifying agents, preservatives or buffers, which enhance the shelf life or effectiveness of the poliovirus chimeras.

The compositions of this invention may be in a variety of forms. These include, for example, liquid dosage forms, such as liquid solutions, dispersions or suspensions, injectable and infusible solutions. The preferred form depends on the intended mode of administration and prophylactic or therapeutic application. The preferred compositions are in the form of injectable or infusible solutions.

Therapeutic oncolytic polioviruses can be delivered intravenously or intraneoplastically (directly into the primary tumor) or by any other route. The preferred mode of administration is directly to the tumor site. For all forms of delivery, the recombinant virus is most preferably formulated in a physiological salt solution: e.g. HANKS balanced salt solution (composition: 1.3 mM CaCl₂ (anhyd.), 5.0 mM KCl, 0.3 mM KH₂ PO₄, 0.5 mM MgCl₂6H₂O, 0.4 mM MgSO₄7H₂O, 138 mM NaCl, 4.0 mM NaHCO₃, 0.3 mM Na₂ HPO₄, 5.6 mM D-Glucose). The inoculum of virus applied for therapeutic purposes can be administered in an exceedingly small volume ranging between 1-10 μl. Recombinant polioviruses stored in a physiological salt solution of the composition detailed above can be stored at −80° C. for many years with minimal loss of activity. Short term storage should be at 4° C. At this temperature virus solutions can be stored for at least one year with minimal loss of activity.

It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that the therapeutically effective amount of recombinant polioviruses of this invention will depend upon the administration schedule, the unit dose of recombinant polioviruses administered, whether the recombinant polioviruses is administered in combination with other therapeutic agents, the status and health of the patient.

The therapeutically effective amounts of oncolytic recombinant virus can be determined empirically and depend on the maximal amount of the recombinant virus that can be administered safely, and the minimal amount of the recombinant virus that produces efficient oncolysis. The dose may be adjusted in accordance with the particular recombinant poliovirus contemplated, the sized of the tumor, and the route of administration desired.

The mechanism by which oncolysis takes place is by the ability of these recombinant polioviruses to replicate in the cancer cells at a rate which causes the destruction of cells. The recombinant polioviruses of the present invention do not affect normal cellular processes and are thus not expected to be toxic to normal cells of an immunized subject. Therefore, it would appear that there is no upper limit to the dose level which can be administered. Thus, to produce the same oncolytic effect achieved through intraneoplastic inoculation of virus by the intravenous route, significantly higher amounts of virus should be and could be administered. However, in an abundance of caution, the appropriate dose level should be the minimum amount which would achieve the oncolytic effect.

Therapeutic inoculations of oncolytic polioviruses can be given repeatedly, depending upon the effect of the initial treatment regimen. Since poliovirus exists in three antigenically distinct serotypes, candidate oncolytic polioviruses will be available as three different serotypes. Any one of the three serotypes can be used provided the patient is protected to the serotype by adequate immunization. The host's immune response to a particular poliovirus can be easily determined serologically.

For that purpose, serological data on the status of immunity against any given poliovirus can be used to make an informed decision on which variant of the oncolytic poliovirus to be used. For example, if a high titer against poliovirus serotype 1 is evident through serological analysis of a candidate patient for treatment with an oncolytic non-pathogenic polioviruses, a serotype 1 oncolytic virus can be used for tumor treatment.

The pharmaceutical compositions of this invention may include or be combined with other therapeutics for treatment of prophylaxis of malignant tumors. For example, the recombinant polioviruses of this invention may be used in combination with surgery, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Furthermore, one or more recombinant polioviruses may be used in combination with two or more of the foregoing therapeutic procedures. Such combination therapies may advantageously utilize lower dosages of the administered therapeutic agents, thus avoiding possible toxicities or adverse effects associated with the various monotherapies.

The method of the invention includes a kit for administering to a cell a composition comprising a recombinant poliovirus of the invention and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The kit comprises a recombinant poliovirus as disclosed herein. The kit can further comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, an applicator, such as a syringe, and an instructional material for the use thereof. The instructions can provide any information that is useful for directing the administration of the recombinant poliovirus for the treatment of solid tumors, such as treatment of neuroblastoma, or for propagating the virus. In an embodiment of invention, the kit provides a mammalian cell, such as a human cell or a transgenic mouse cell the expressed CD155.

The present invention is not to be limited in scope by the specific embodiments described herein which are intended as single illustrations of individual aspects of the invention, and functionally equivalent methods and components are within the scope of the invention. Indeed, various modifications of the invention, in addition to those shown and described herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Such modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the claims. Throughout this application, various publications are referenced. The disclosures of these publications in the entireties are hereby incorporated by reference into this application in order to more fully describe the state of the art to those skilled therein as of the date of the invention described and claimed herein.

Example 1 Construction of Plasmids and DNA Manipulation

The neurovirulent poliovirus type 1 (Mahoney) was the strain used in the laboratory (Cello, 2002). The mouse neuroblastoma cell line stably expressing CD155a (Neuro-2a^(CD155)) has been described (Mueller, 2003). Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells, which are susceptible to poliovirus infection, were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 1% penicillin/streptomycin and 10% fetal bovine serum. HeLa cells and human neuroblastoma cell lines SK-N-MC, SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, Va.) and were maintained according to the manufacture's specification.

The poliovirus cDNA sequence was that used by Cello et al. (2002) for cDNA synthesis (plasmid pT7PVM) (van der Werf, 1986). “pT7PVM cre(2C^(ATPase)) mutant” is a full-length poliovirus cDNA clone in which the native cre element in the 2C^(ATPase) coding region was inactivated by introducing three mutations at nt 4462 (G to A), 4465 (C to U), and 4472 (A to C) (Yin, 2003; Paul, 2003; Rieder, 2000). Dual-cre PV is a derivative of pT7PVM carrying two active cre elements; one at nt 102/103 of the 5′-NTR at which a new Nhe I restriction site was created. The second cre element is in the 2C^(ATPase) coding region (FIG. 1A). Mono-crePV has the active cre in the spacer region whereas the native cre in the 2C^(ATPase) coding region has been inactivated (FIG. 1A). To construct A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV, which has a single A₁₃₃G mutation in the 5′-NTR, site-directed mutagenesis was performed with the QuickChange mutagenesis kit from Stratagene using primers (5′-CAAGTTCAATAGGAGGGGGTACAAACC-3′; SEQ ID NO:2) and (5′-CTGGTTTGTACCCCCTCCTATTGAAC-3′; SEQ ID NO:3). Mutations and final constructs were verified through sequencing using the ABI Prism DNA Sequencing kit.

FIG. 1A shows the structure of the A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV genome: The single-stranded RNA is covalently linked to the viral-encoded protein VPg at the 5′ end of the non-translated region (5′-NTR). The 5′-NTR consists of two cis-acting domains, the cloverleaf and the internal ribosomal entry site (IRES), which are separated by a spacer region. The IRES controls translation of the polyprotein (open box), consisting of structural (P1) region and nonstructural regions (P2 and P3), specifying the replication proteins. Within the 2C^(ATPase) coding region, the cis replication element (cre) is indicated. The 3′-NTR contains a heteropolymeric region and is polyadenylylated. RNA replication requires all three structural elements, cloverleaf, cre and the 3′-NTR. The native cre in 2C^(ATPase) was inactivated by mutation as indicated by an X (mono-crePV). A point mutation (A₁₃₃G) was engineered into domain II of the 5′-NTR in mono-crePV (A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV). Wt, wild type.

Example 2 In Vitro Transcription, Transfection and One-Step Growth Curves

All plasmids were linearized with DraI. RNAs were synthesized with phage T7 RNA polymerase, and the RNA transcripts were transfected into HeLa cell monolayers by the DEAE-dextran method as described previously (van der Werf, 1986). The incubation time was up to 2 days and virus titers were determined by a plaque assay (Pincus, 1986). One-step growth curves in HeLa, Neuro-2a^(CD155), SK-N-MC, SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y were carried out as follows. Cell monolayers (1×10⁶ cells) were infected at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 10. The plates were incubated at 37° C. or at 39.5° C., as indicated, and the cells were harvested at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12 and 24 h post infection. The plates were subjected to three consecutive freeze-thaw cycles, and the viral titers of the supernatants were determined by plaque assay on HeLa cell monolayers, as describe before (Pincus, 1986).

Results are shown in FIG. 1B. The insertion of the duplicated cre element into the 102/103 locus does not interfere with virus replication in HeLa cells. Moreover, inactivation of the endogenous cre by three point mutations yielded a variant replicating also with a wt phenotype in HeLa cells. Although both mono-crePV and dual-crePV replicated in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells at 37° C. they are strongly restricted at 39.5° C. a phenotype reminiscent of GG PV1(M).

Example 3 Neurovirulence Assays

Groups of four CD155 tg mice or CD155 tgA/J mice (equal number of male and females) were inoculated with any given amount of virus ranging from 10¹ to 10⁷ plaque-forming unit (pfu) (30 μl/mouse) intracerebrally or intramuscularly with mono-crePV, A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV, dual-crePV and wt PV1(M). Mice were examined daily for 21 days post-inoculation for paralysis and/or death. The virus titer that induced paralysis or death in 50% of the mice (PLD₅₀) was calculated by the method of Reed and Muench (Reed, 1938).

Example 4 Characterization of Novel Neuroattenuated Poliovirus Strains

A single point mutation in the 5′-NTR of the poliovirus genome neuroattenuates poliovirus in CD155 tg mice, but the mutant replicates in and kills neuroblastoma cells. However, revertants rapidly emerge whose neurovirulence matches that of wild type PV1(M). The GG dinucleotide mutation of GG PV1(M) (nt 102/103) maps to a region in the poliovirus genome (the spacer region) that previously had not been implicated in poliovirus pathogenesis. To genetically stabilize the attenuated phenotype of GG PV1(M), the invention provides poliovirus constructs in which the cre, an essential cis acting replication element mapping to the coding region of protein 2C^(ATPase) (FIG. 1A), was placed into the nt 102/103 locus. The insertion of the duplicated cre element into the 102/103 locus (dual-crePV; FIG. 1A) does not interfere with virus replication in and killing of HeLa cells (FIG. 1B) (Yin, 2003). Moreover, inactivation of the endogenous cre by three point mutations (mono-crePV; FIG. 1A) yielded a variant replicating also with a wt phenotype in HeLa cells (FIG. 1B) (Yin, 2003). Although both mono-crePV and dual-crePV replicated in human neuroblastoma SK-N-MC cells at 37° C. they are strongly restricted at 39.5° C. (FIG. 1B), a phenotype reminiscent of GG PV1(M) (De Jesus, 2005). Intracerebral injection of mono-crePV or dual-crePV into CD155 tg mice revealed a very strong attenuation phenotype (Table 1) and neurovirulent variants of mono-crePV have never been isolated from infected animals (data not shown).

TABLE 1 Neuropathogenicity of wt poliovirus PV(M), dual-crePV, mono-crePV, and A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV PLD₅₀ (pfu)* in PVR PLD₅₀ (pfu)* in PVR Virus transgenic mice transgenic A/J mice wt PV1(M)   10^(1.8)   10^(2.0) Dual-crePV >10^(7.0) >10^(7.0) Mono-crePV >10^(7.0) >10^(7.0) A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV   10^(4.5)   10^(4.8) *Defined as the amount of virus that causes paralysis or death in 50% of PVR transgenic mice or PVR transgenic A/J mice after i.c. inoculation

Example 5 Immunocompetent CD155 tg A/J Mice

The transgenic mice that express human CD155 under its original promoter (ICR-CD155/Tg21) were kindly provided by Dr. A. Nomoto (Koike, 1991). The CD155 tg mice were kept in the homozygous state. A/J mice, which express the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) haplotype H-2^(a), were purchased from the Jackson Laboratories. A/J mice carrying CD155 gene were obtained by outcrossing A/J mice with CD155 tg mice and called CD155 tgA/J mice. The CD155 tgA/J mice are heterozygous for CD155 and H-2^(a). Mice were at least six weeks of age before use. All procedures involving experimental mice were conducted according to protocols approved by the institutional committees on animal welfare.

For testing mono-crePV as a candidate to treat solid tumors, such as anti neuroblastoma therapy, neuroblastoma tumors are generated in a mouse model susceptible to poliovirus. CD155 tg mice (strain ICR-CD155/Tg21) (Koike, 1991) were used as a mouse model since they are susceptible to poliovirus infection via the intracerebral, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous routes (Koike, 1991) and infected mice develop a paralytic disease resembling human poliomyelitis (Koike, 1991). The invention provides a cell line (Neuro-2a^(CD155)) which is susceptible to poliovirus infection (Mueller, 2003). Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells, however, cannot establish tumors in CD155 tg mice because the original Neuro-2a cell line was developed from a spontaneous tumor in A/J mice. In contrast to CD155 tg mice, A/J mice express the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)H-2^(a) (data not shown). Accordingly, the CD155 gene was introduced into A/J mice via outcrossing and CD155 tgA/J mice were obtained that responded to poliovirus infection indistinguishably from CD155 tg mice. The PLD₅₀ value of CD155 tgA/J mice inoculated intracerebrally with wt PV1(M) was nearly identical to that of CD155 tg mice (Table 1) and both mono-crePV and dual-crePV expressed the same striking attenuated phenotype in these new transgenic animals (Table 1). Importantly, subcutaneous injection of 1×10⁷Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells into the hind flank of CD155 tgA/J mice established tumors in 80% of the animals. The tumors progressed to a mean tumor volume of 570.6 mm³ after 2 weeks and all tumor-bearing mice were sacrificed when their tumors reached >17 mm in maximal diameter.

Example 6 Serial Passages of Mono-crePV in Neuro-2a^(CD155) Cells

The selection of mono-crePV variants capable of efficient replication in Neuro-2a^(CD155) and SK-N-MC cells was carried out according to the following procedure: Neuro-2a^(CD155) and SK-N-MC cells were infected with the mono-crePV at a MOI of 10 and incubated at 39.5° C. for 48 hours. Infected cells were then lysed by three freeze-thaw cycles and the supernatant fluid was harvested and clarified by low-speed centrifugation. Virus stock from each passage was obtained by growing the virus in HeLa at 37° C. After fifteen passages, RNA extracted from the viral cell lysate served as template for RT-PCR and purified PCR amplicons were used for sequencing reactions. Isolation of viral RNA, RT-PCR, purification of PCR products and sequencing were carried out as described previously (Cello, 2002).

Example 5 Oncolytic Effect on Tumor Grafts of Mono-crePV and Variants Adapted by Repeated Passage

Treatment of four CD155-transgenic A/J mice bearing subcutaneous tumors with a dose of 1×10⁸ pfu of mono-crePV did not lead to tumor regression (data not shown). It was observed that mono-crePV replicates poorly in mouse Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (FIG. 2D). However, although none of the treated mice developed paralysis, virus recovered from tumors of these mice revealed what appeared to be adaptive mutations scattered over a wide range of the genome: A₁₃₃G, C₂₅₇₅A, A₃₇₁₉C, C₅₅₈₄G, A₆₄₂₇G, and U₆₆₀₇A.

The selection of mono-crePV variants capable of efficient replication in Neuro-2a^(CD155) and SK-N-MC cells was carried out according to the following procedure: Neuro-2a^(CD155) and SK-N-MC cells were infected with the mono-crePV at a MOI of 10 and incubated at 39.5° C. for 48 hours. Infected cells were then lysed by three freeze-thaw cycles and the supernatant fluid was harvested and clarified by low-speed centrifugation. Virus stock from each passage was obtained by growing the virus in HeLa at 37° C. After fifteen passages, RNA extracted from the viral cell lysate served as template for RT-PCR and purified PCR amplicons were used for sequencing reactions. Isolation of viral RNA, RT-PCR, purification of PCR products and sequencing were carried out as described previously (Cello, 2002).

mono-crePV was passaged fifteen times on SK.N-MC or on Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells and the total RNAs of putative variants after RT-PCR were sequences. The analyses showed that the cre element in the 5′-NTR was retained after passages in both cell lines. Seven mutations accumulated in variants after serial passage in SK-M-NC (A₁₃₃G, A₈₀₇G, G₁₂₆₄A, A₃₇₈₇G, C₅₆₉₉U, A₆₂₆₀C, and U₆₂₆₁G) and five mutations (G₁₀₁A, A₁₃₃G, A₁₄₅C, C₂₆₀₇U, and G₃₅₄₃C) after serial passage in Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells. The A₁₃₃G transversion was observed in both cell culture- and tumor-adapted mono-crePV, an observation suggesting that this mutation is responsible for the increased replication. Engineering just this A₁₃₃G transition into mono-crePV yielded the variant A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV whose replication in Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells increased by two logs compared to mono-crePV (FIG. 2D/2G) whereas in SK-N-SY5Y and SK-N-MC cells it was less remarkable (FIG. 2B, C). Nomoto and his colleagues have described a related observation before (Shiroki, 1995). PV1(M), while replicating in mouse L^(CD155) cells at 37° C. with wild type kinetics, is highly restricted in these cells at 40° C. (Shiroki, 1995). The temperature sensitive phenotype in mouse cells is ablated by the same A₁₃₃G transition described here (Shiroki, 1995). It is noteworthy, however, that the host cell restriction of PV1(M) in mouse L^(CD155) cells is apparent only at 40° C. whereas mono-crePV is restricted in Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells already at 37° C. Since a stimulating effect conferred by the A₁₃₃G mutation is also observed in one of the human neuroblastoma cells of neuronal origin (SK-N-MC), it appears that the A₁₃₃G transition is not strictly a host range mutation.

The increased replication in Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV co-varied with an increase of neuropathogenicity in both CD155 tg mice and CD155 tgA/J mice although the virus was still attenuated compared to wt poliovirus (Table 1). By comparing the two other human neuroblastoma cell lines with SK-N-MC cells, it was observed that both mono-crePV and A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV replicate more efficiently in SK-N-SH and SH-SY5Y cells (FIGS. 2A, B and C). Moreover, the temperature sensitive phenotype of mono-cre PV is absent or weak in SK-N-SH or SH-SY5Y cells, respectively (FIGS. 2A, B and C). Interestingly, at 39.5° C., A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV replicated better than mono-crePV in SH-SY5Y, SK-N-MC, and Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (FIGS. 2A, B and C). These results suggest that the A₁₃₃G mutation is responsible for an increased replication at 39.5° C. not only in mouse neuroblastoma cells but also in human neuroblastoma cells.

A single intra-tumoral injection of 1×10⁶ pfu of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV into four CD155 tgA/J mice, bearing a subcutaneous Neuro-2a^(CD155) tumor, caused dramatic tumor regression within 5 days. However, two of four animals treated with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV showed paralysis and died approximately 7 days after virus injection (data not shown). This result suggested that A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV can efficiently replicate in subcutaneous neuroblastoma but it can also spread to the CNS causing paralysis.

Example 6 Immunization and Microneutralization Assay

Unacceptable side effects of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV can be prevented by the presence of serum neutralizing antibodies. CD155 tgA/J mice were immunized with mono-crePV (1×10⁸ pfu) intraperitoneally three times at one-week intervals (FIG. 3(I)). For the neutralizing antibody assay, blood was collected from the tail vein before immunization and on day 21 after the last immunization. Titers of poliovirus-neutralizing antibodies in mouse serum samples were determined by microneutralization assay with 100 plaque forming unit (pfu) of challenge virus, performed according to the recommendations of WHO (World Health Organization, 1997).

High titers of neutralizing antibodies against poliovirus (in the range of 256-2048) were detectable in all mice at day 21 post-immunization (data not shown). Immunized and control animals were challenged by the intramuscular route with 1×10⁶ pfu of PV1(M) to examine whether the anti-polio antibodies protected from poliovirus CNS invasion. None of immunized CD155 tgA/J mice showed signs of paresia and paralysis whereas all of the control CD155 tgA/J mice died of flaccid paralysis within 5 days after PV1(M) injection. This result suggests that the large amount of oncolytic virus delivered locally into the tumor escaped the circulating anti-poliovirus antibodies until the substrate for viral proliferation (the tumor cells) was exhausted. Similar observations have been reported with other oncolytic viruses in mice and humans (Nakamura, 2002) (Coffey, 1998) (Nemunaitis, 2000).

Example 7 Tumor Treatment Model

Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (1×10⁷) were subcutaneously implanted in the right flank of each CD155 tgA/J immunized mouse (day 21 after the last immunization) (following the schedule outlined in FIG. 3). When the subcutaneous tumor volumes were approximately 170 mm³ (approximately 7-12 days after implantation), mice were inoculated intratumorally with A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV or PBS, respectively. Tumor growth was determined by measuring the tumor volume (length×width×height) every day. Mice were sacrificed when their tumors measured reached >17 mm in any diameter. Mice were followed for up to 6 months after treatment. For experiments of re-challenging with tumor cells those animals that survived without signs of cancer cells for 6 months, survivors were inoculated with 1×10⁷ Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells in the contra lateral flank. For CD155 expression assays, tumor tissue was suspended in 2 volumes of PBS with 1% of TritonX-100 and a protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche). Tumor tissue was lysed with 8 to 12 strokes of a 15-ml Dounce homogenizer with a type B pestle (Bellco) and incubated on ice for 30 min. Cell debris and nuclei were removed by centrifugation at 8,000×g for 10 min at 4° C. 100 μg of cell lysate was separated on a 10% SDS-PAGE followed by Western blot analysis with CD155-specific antiserum NAEZ-8 (1:5,000)/anti-rabbit horse-radish peroxidase (1:10,000) or anti-actin mouse monoclonal antibody JLA20 (1:1,000)/anti-mouse horse-radish peroxidase (1:10,000).

By day 8, the tumors had grown in all PBS-treated mice to a diameter of >17 mm and the animals were euthanized (FIG. 4). In contrast, injection of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV resulted in marked regression of tumors in all of the twelve treated mice and the mean tumor volume for these virus-treated animals was 128.8 mm³ after 8 days. Moreover, none of A₁₃₃G mono-cre PV treated mice showed paralysis. Of the eleven A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV treated mice, 9 animals showed no evidence of recurrent tumors by day 180. One mouse showed a residual tumor mass, which started growing on day 20. Another mouse, although initially presenting complete regression, showed recurrence of the tumor on day 61. Although the two mice with the recurrent tumors were treated again with 1×10⁸ pfu of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV, tumor regression was not observed (data not shown). The two animals were euthanized when the tumor reached a diameter of >17 mm. Western blot analysis with anti-CD155 rabbit polyclonal antibody NAEZ-8 was performed in order to examine CD155 expression in the recurrent tumor cells and harvested tumor from PV treated mice on day 8. Proteins extracted from the tumors that had not been subjected to A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV treatment were used as positive controls. Our results indicated that CD155 expression in the residual and recurrent tumor cells was very low compared with the non-recurrent tumors (FIG. 5).

It is possible that the recurrent tumors resulted from tumor-founding Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells in which expression of CD155 was disrupted, making the tumor cells resistant to A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV. This is highly likely since it has been observed previously that cells transformed to express a foreign gene are likely to produce some rare variants lacking expression of this gene. The nearly undetectable levels of CD155 expression in the two recurrent tumors strongly support this hypothesis (FIG. 5), as selection for the virus resistant cells forming the tumors would be favored. Other unknown mechanisms, e.g. intratumoral heterogeneity, may also have contributed to the observed tumor recurrence. Since most monotherapeutic approaches may not lead to complete tumor control, combination therapy may be needed in the oncolytic treatment of solid tumors, such as neuroblastoma.

Example 8 Inhibition of Tumor Recurrence

A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV-treated mice with no evidence of recurrent tumors 6 months after virus injection, were re-challenged with Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (FIG. 3(IV)). Specifically, 1×10⁷ Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (the same number of cells as in the original challenge) were injected into the opposite flank of nine animals. Significantly, none of the re-challenged animals developed tumors at the site of Neuro-2a^(CD155) re-inoculation or elsewhere. This data suggests that the oncolytic therapy by A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV activated the immune system against Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells leading to an anti-tumor activity that six months later is likely to be independent of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV.

Example 9 Cytotoxicity of Splenocytes from Immune-Competent Mice Treated with Intratumoral Injections of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV

To evaluate the cellular anti-tumor immunity induced by oncolytic therapy with live attenuated poliovirus, the cytolytic anti-tumor activity of splenocytes collected from the neuroblastoma-cured CD155 tgA/J mice after consecutive rechallenge with Neuro-2a^(CD155) and Neuro-2a cells (FIG. 6; IV-VI) was quantified. Splenocytes from these mice were isolated 2 months after the last challenge (FIG. 6, VI). As a control group, subcutaneous Neuro-2a^(CD155) tumors were established in polio-immunized CD155 tgA/J mice. These animals were killed after the tumor had reached a volume of ˜500 mm³ and their splenocytes were used as a control in cytotoxic assays.

Splenocytes isolated from mice cured from neuroblastoma showed strong lytic activity against both target cells tested (Neuro-2a^(CD155) and Neuro-2a), in contrast to the scant or negligible tumor-specific lysis detected in splenocytes derived from control mice (FIG. 7A). Notably, the cytolytic activity of splenocytes from neuroblastoma-cured mice was similar against both Neuro-2a and Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells, confirming that tumor cell destruction does not require specific interaction of NK cell receptors with the poliovirus receptor (i.e., CD155/CD96/226 interaction).

To determine which cell subpopulations are responsible for the cell-mediated antitumor immune responses, splenocytes from the cured mice were depleted in vitro of NK, CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ cells respectively, prior to cytotoxic assay. As shown in FIG. 7B, incubation of splenocytes with neutralizing antibody NK1.1 or anti-CD4 had little or no effect on their ability to kill Neuro-2a^(CD155) cells (FIG. 7B). In contrast, incubation with neutralizing anti-CD8 antibody reduced the cytolytic activity of splenocytes from cured mice (FIG. 7B lane 4), suggesting that cytotoxic CD8⁺ T cells are the principal mediators of antineuroblastoma immunity elicited by A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV virotherapy.

Example 10 Antitumor Effect of Adoptively Transferred Splenocytes from Cured Mice by A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV Virotherapy

A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV-induced antitumor immunity was demonstrated by adoptive transfer of splenocytes harvested from cured A/J mice. The donor mice were naïve A/J mice that had developed ˜170 mm³ subcutaneous Neuro-2a^(CD155) tumor (FIG. 8A) and been cured with four injections of A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV into. Splenocytes from naïve A/J mice served as a negative control. Tumor sizes were measured every day and tumor volumes were calculated. As expected, all the control mice experienced progressive tumor growth and sacrificed within 21 days (FIG. 8B). By comparison with the effects of splenocytes from controls, the adaptively transferred splenocytes from A₁₃₃Gmono-crePV-treated mice produced significantly greater inhibition of tumor growth (FIG. 8B). No evidence of overt toxicity was observed by adoptive transfer of splenocytes isolated from cured A/J mice under these conditions. This result indicates that a tumor-specific immune response was induced by virotherapy and oncolysis.

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1. A recombinant poliovirus containing a single active cre regulatory element, said cre element located in the spacer region of the 5′-NTR between the cloverleaf and internal ribosome entry site (IRES), and an A₁₃₃G mutation in domain II of the internal ribosome entry site (IRES).
 2. The recombinant poliovirus of claim 1, which comprises SEQ ID NO:1.
 3. A recombinant poliovirus containing a single active cre element inserted at nucleotide 102/103.
 4. The recombinant poliovirus of claim 3, wherein the cre element is positioned as in SEQ ID NO:1.
 5. The recombinant poliovirus of claim 1, which comprises an inactivated native cre element in the 2C coding region of the poliovirus genome.
 6. The recombinant poliovirus of claim 1, which elicits an antitumor immune response.
 7. A composition comprising a recombinant poliovirus selected from the recombinant polio virus of claim 1 or the recombinant polio virus of claim 3, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
 8. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the composition is infusible.
 9. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the composition is injectable.
 10. A composition according to claim 7, wherein the pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is a physiological salt solution.
 11. A composition according to claim 10, wherein the physiological salt solution is HANKS balanced salt solution.
 12. A kit comprising the recombinant poliovirus of claim 1 or the recombinant poliovirus of claim 3, and instructional material for the use thereof.
 13. The recombinant poliovirus of claim 3, which comprises an inactivated native cre element in the 2C coding region of the poliovirus genome.
 14. The recombinant poliovirus of claim 3, which elicits an antitumor immune response. 